Every time I find myself alone at home, I always make sure—usually several times—that my front door is locked. Every time I walk alone, I always look behind my back and check my surroundings to make sure I’m not being followed. Every time I walk to my car, I hold the keys in my hand, and as soon as I’m inside, I lock the door, turn on the headlights, and start the engine.I do all of that—and many other similar behaviors—because I’m afraid; and I’m afraid because I’m female.I grew up in the most...

Statistics show a worrisome picture of mental health worldwide: depression is the leading cause of disability, and every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide.But in no population group are current statistics on mental health more worrisome than young people. Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 15 and 29 and the leading cause for girls between the ages of 15 and 19. Mental health conditions also often begin during the teen and young adult years...

“So, why are you here?”This is a question I’ve heard every time I visited a new counselor or therapist. No matter how many times I’ve answered this question, however, it remains a difficult one to answer. First, because the reasons why I was seeking help were complicated, and I didn’t have an easy answer to the question. And second, because it was so incredibly hard to say, “Because I’m struggling, and I need help.”The anxiety was constant, the panic attacks were mentally and physically debilita...

Gabrielle Rocha Rios

Trilingual Brazilian-American PhD student in International Psychology and writer currently living in the Washington, DC area.

Member since July 15, 2018

Age 25 •
3 Posts

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